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Growth

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When You’re Ready To Give Up…

“I look around and all I see, everyone smiling, everyone but me…”
This is me.
This is me in times of loneliness, me in times of self-hatred, me when I feel like giving up.
But then I realize the friends that I have. One of them said to me on my homecoming night after I got stood up, “You fit in… You don’t need to be popular, you don’t need a lot of friends. You just need a few good ones.” Another seemed to support in almost every text he sent me, one saying, “I know you’re going through some tough stuff right. We are here for you and we aren’t going anywhere.”
With that support, I realize that I’m not alone and someone is going to be there for me when I want to give up.
And that goes the same for you.
You have friends and family who love you and care for you. They aren’t going anywhere, and want to help you. Take advantage of that. They may end up saving your life.

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Rise Above

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Be Yourself

At bottom every man knows well enough that he is a unique being, only once on this earth; and by no extraordinary chance will such a marvelously picturesque piece of diversity in unity as he is, ever be put together a second time. ~Friedrich Nietzsche

This quote is very inspirational because it speaks the truth. Be yourself in this life because in the next, you may not have that chance

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I Will Overcome

I come from a long line of alcoholics in my family. I have seen first hand how alcohol can ruin and destroy you. I vowed to myself that I would never drink. I have been pressured by the people in my family, and friends, to drink. I have always upheld my vow to not drink because I have to much to live for. Alchol can hurt you and the people around you. I don’t want others around me to go through the pain I went though.

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Don’t be a slave

Just do you! Forget about what anybody says, if you don’t want to do something whatever it may be, don’t do it. Use your head and research EVERYTHING you are unsure of, because only you can live your life! Only you can make it what you want it to be! Live it how you want it and don’t be afraid to go your own way! Be who you set to be and live above all influences!

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Always Say No to the Bad Things

When it comes to peer pressure you then find out who your true friends are. True friends will always support your opinions and your views on certain things. Stealing, drinking underage, or drugs are the bad things in life – if you start early it will come back and bite you in the long run.

Always say no to those things, it will ruin your life forever and you may never get a second chance.

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Drugs Can Change You

If you believe that drugs don’t change you, think again. Drugs will make you do things that you don’t know what you are doing. For example, I hurt my ex badly. I was so influenced that I broke her heart and didn’t even care. A week of being sober, and I started realizing that I lost the most important, beautiful girl ever, and now she’s gone because of my decisions.

Just because you feel like crap doesn’t mean you need to take drugs. And in life there are consequences. And that’s one of the consequences that I’m living now. So people please consider making a change just like I am. Because you can lose the most important people in your life.

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drugs are destructive

A year ago I never believed in what people would say about drugs, the typical “they destroy you.”

I hardly ever had a sober day – I was always on bars, pain killers, hydros, lsd, weed, codiene, ecstacy – I was always on something. But then when I was sober, I was so angry and felt pointless in life. I got into a argument with my mom and I was having a terrible day while being sober, and I just thought, “what if I just take so many pills and bars I don’t wake up and have to deal with being sober?” because I couldn’t stand the empty depressing aggravation I had. Life felt POINTLESS POINTLESS. My dad that night opened a drawer in my desk and found all the hydros and xanax bars I was going to take the next day, in total it was about 28 including nyquils to put me to sleep and never awaken. My parents were so disappointed to find all the hydros, nyquils, and xanax bars I had planned to take the next day.

That was my wake up call that I needed to quit drugs and just face sobriety. Self+drugs=self destruction.

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Painkillers Beware!

I am a recovering addict trying to change others lives and warn others of the danger. At first my drug use was fun, but I was so unaware of the dark turn my life would take. In the matter of a couple of weeks I was addicted to oxycodone – a strong painkiller. I spent every penny I had on this drug. I dropped out of college where I was pre-med. I lost 6 jobs and I was arrested 3 times in 1 year. I lost contact with some of my closest best friends. I stole money from my family for drugs. When I tallied all the money together, I spent $300,000 on my addiction.

When I was younger I told myself that would never happen to me. However, it can happen to anyone. No matter what your skin color is, sexual orientation or your religion you can be an addict. Oxycodone is a dangerous drug! It is the same thing as heroin. I had no idea I was putting heroin into my body, because I thought painkillers were ok, because doctors prescribe it. Message: don’t do it!

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The Guilt You Have To Live With

I was always the good girl: the one who never did anything wrong, ever. I was always afraid to do something wrong, I would disappoint my family or even worse God. Then one day I went off the deep end. I had sex with a guy I didn’t even know. Why you might ask, to this day I haven’t figured it out. What I am trying to say is talk to someone. I was being pressured by my friends and I went with it. I did the one thing I promised myself I would never do, all because of peer pressure. That is not even the worst part though. I got pregnant that one night and had an abortion. That was God sending me a message. I had made a mistake and now had to live with it. Everyday I have to live with the guilt of how I killed the tiny baby in my stomach.WORST feeling EVER.

Don’t let peer pressure get to you. It could make your whole life different. Sure it might not be as extreme as my case, but it also could be. Let my story be a great reminder to listen to yourself and your beliefs, not what a “friend” says. You are you.

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Be Different

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ADVICE: bullies

We all know what it’s like to be put-down. It’s no fun by any means. We tend to do the following things when people bully or tease.
-cry
-ignore
-complain
-get even
You may cry for the 1st time, ignore the 2nd time, complain the 3rd and eventually crave for revenge. None of these will help. TRUST ME. Crying only makes your mind think the action is worse than what it is. Ignoring it will want the bully to keep trying to get your attention, and complaining will make no one want to help you. Getting even might get you into trouble. So my advice?!
-laugh along
-report
-take action
Laugh along if it’s a minor joke.
i.e.: “you look like a pig!” (Your response: Oink oink!)
Report: NOT Tattle! Tell a parent what’s going on.
Take action: have a parent call someone for further help.
*Your friend might pressure you to ignore the bully or get even, but DON’T. Fight through until the end.

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I’m Above the Influence

I’ve been near peer pressure now and then, but I always remember that I’m above the influence. I know that I am strong enough to not be persuaded to do drugs or to drink. I know that I will become stronger every time I say no to drugs and alcohol. I will become stronger, because I’m above the influence.

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Just another scene girl.

Once I tried a new hair style that I thought was really cute, but everyone made fun of me, and I ended up crying in the bathroom. When I got home I gave myself a “normal” haircut. This year I decided to try the hair style again, and I ignored everyone’s comments. People in public places and at school were coming up to me saying I really love your hair, could you do mine? I ended up keeping it. I have had the hair style since October 2014. It’s really hard to ignore how society sees you, but find friends that care for you and stick with them. Trust me, if I didn’t have my friends, I would be a normal nobody who doesn’t express her feelings.

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I am an athlete

I am an athlete. People see us as those perfect people who have it all under control. I am a freshman in high school. When I see the upperclassmen athletes some are drinking and smoking and not really caring about their futures. They cheat on tests because they are too lazy to study after their games. They don’t try hard enough to succeed in everything that they do because they are afraid of failure. That’s the way how society and peer pressure work. They applaud you for getting a C on a test and they call you a nerd when you get 100% on a test that you studied for hours on. I want to be different. I want to be the one person who can role model for others to know that it’s okay not to smoke and drink and that there is another way to find happiness. I want to be the person who can get a 100% on a test and not worry about what people think about it. Right now I might not be the coolest kid in school but I know the habits I have created will help me later in life.

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Stuck in the Trenches

For as long as I can remember, I have had on and off depressive episodes accompanied by an unavoidable misery. When my dad passed away two months ago, and my sister betrayed us all with her greed, I thought that I had reached my limit. After all of the heartbreak, disappointment, depression, and death experienced in my life, I didn’t think I was going to make it. To be honest, I still don’t. But I am trying. And that’s what matters.

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Happiness

Happiness is the hardest thing to find. But unhappiness and discontent with what you have is easy to achieve. Drugs will not fill the void of unhappiness you feel. Depression is hard to deal with, but easy to fight as long as you remain grateful for what you do have. People love you and will continue to love you through it all, don’t take them for granted. You’re too strong to give in.

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You aren’t alone.

To all of you guys who need help: It’s going to be okay. Everything is better in the end, and if it still isn’t better, then it is not the end. You just need to fight through it. I know you are told this a lot. But consider it. If you truly try and put yourself out there and attempt to make a difference things can happen. If not, then just stick to yourself and what you believe in and BE POSITIVE. If you are not positive ask someone you can 100 % trust. If you don’t trust them don’t say a word. I’m here. People are here for you. Let us help. Let us in. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

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A Put Down Problem

In my math class and at my church there was this girl who would always put me down. I never really dealt with something like it, so I broke down a little. After a whole year I finally got the courage to talk to her about it, and that put an end to it.

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Here for Other Reasons

I feel no pressure to do drugs or alcohol. I’m here because I have panic and anxiety disorders. I don’t function well around other people. You all give me influence to keep trying to be myself around other people and not be an empty shell. I’m actually an outgoing person on the inside. I love people. My favorite thing to do is help others. I get so much joy out of seeing other people’s smiles. But I’m held back because of my anxiety. I’m not giving up. One of these days, everything will change, and I will be able to meet new people with no problem. Smile every day.

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What always happens

I always get bullied at school about how small I am. Sometimes some people think I look cute as a small person and a lot of people think I am a small fry. I am 4 feet and 5 inches and I am in middle school. But I always stay true to myself and think I am always pretty and normal and no different from the other people at my school. Some people always tell me “I am tiny but mighty!” And I love that!

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Big Sister

Ever since I got moved up to play varsity soccer in 8th grade I had a big sister that I could always count on! There was this one time when I was invited to go to a bonfire team gathering and they ended up inviting the boys team. I asked my “sister” what I should do because I didn’t want to get caught with alcohol or drugs. She told me she thought it was best for me to stay home and not go. She said “If I were going you could’ve come with me.” Even though she is graduating this year I know I can still call or text her if I get into something bad and don’t want to. She always will be there for me if I need to talk or just for advice.

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Change is obtainable

I am one of the kids who grew up in a drug addicted family, and for the longest time I told myself that I never wanted to be like them, and that I would never do drugs…..
Then I turned 13 and stress was constantly pouring down on me and weighing down my shoulders. So I to started using, and it was hard to stop my habit when everybody I loved and looked up to for advice, supported my habit. I learned the hard way, and was locked up for two years. By then my family stopped. But I went back, and got locked up for another year and a half. When I got out my family supported me and encouraged me to go down the right path. I am strong and I do have self control and self acceptance. The other day a blunt was pulled out and passed to me. I said no thanks, and walked away. Ever since then the chains that were holding me to drugs are gone. I am my own rock, I carry my own. You can change but you have to want it and take the productive and healthy steps to get it.

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The Sweater

I used to always wonder if what I was wearing showed too much of my stomach, or too much of my ugly. I’ve been told I am a beautiful person but never really felt it myself. Then right before my freshman year in high school I bought these cool sweaters with pictures of food on it. I was afraid that people were going to make fun of me for wearing something stupid, and for many weeks I kept delaying myself from wearing it. Then the day finally came when I looked in the mirror and said “I am beautiful, curves and dips. Everything from the last string of hair to the tip of my toes.” If you say this to yourself every day you can improve in self confidence. We might think that we’re not perfect, but no one is. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS!!! Because you are one of a kind.

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Wasn’t godo enough

I was modeling for two years and I decided to stop because they wanted me to lose 30 pounds and if I didn’t lose the weight, I was not sent any jobs or castings. I still have self esteem issues but I at least love myself now. No one should ever suffer for fame. I learned that beauty can’t be measured.

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Above the Influence

My name is Crystal and I am a recovering Herion Addict. I was clean 7 months and then relapsed for two weeks. My new clean date is May 10, 2014! I love recovery because it has given me a new chance to live, to be who I really want to be, to be me! I never thought I could feel this way again. I never thought I could have faith in my Higher Power again and I have more faith now than I ever have before! My advice to others is you have to be willing to change, you have to accept that you’re powerless over your addiction. You do that and your on your way!!! Good luck in your journey to recovery!

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I’m Different

Everyone used to tell me how drugs were a nice way to relieve stress; how you only became addicted if you let yourself become addicted. To a degree, it was true; however, it’s not true for most people. I started smoking marijuana in seventh grade, and it was just kind of a side habit until my junior year in high school. That’s when it went from monthly, to weekly, and then to an almost daily habit. I thought I had the will to limit my addiction, but eventually it overcame me. I don’t know how or why, but at some point, I realized where I was heading with drug abuse. I know people who’ve gone on to ecstasy and heroin, and I can’t tell you how glad I am that I’ve ditched that dirty habit.

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The choice is yours

Many may say my background was designed for me to fail. Well I believe in choices. You can choose to become apart of the commonly known indigent negative influences, or choose to become elite and strive for greatness. I chose to be great…no matter the circumstance’s. The choice was mine!

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Going against the crowd sometimes gets you the farthest

I was bullied all of my life up until Middle School for not quite fitting in. I’m not so good at sports and I didn’t always know what to say. The lack of human compassion pushed me onto my laptop and the internet a lot instead of being out on the streets causing trouble out of boredom. This is the beginning of how I took an interest to Computer Science. It was something I was good at and kids at school couldn’t take away from me no matter how hard they tried. I started getting better at it, and soon other people online and even my classmates and teachers started to admire my work. The internet is also where I discovered other kids had the same problems I did and where I learned how they overcame them. That’s when I realized that the silly comments other kids made didn’t matter and I could define who I was. Fast forward three years and now I am a sophomore in High School. I have friends that now come to me for life advice, I accomplish magic using a keyboard and I now work for a cloud web hosting company in NYC.

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Know That You Know

It took me a long time and lots of mistakes to get to this place of…believing that I CAN make the right choices. Then again, I CAN make mistakes and still be “good.” I’ve learned to ask myself one very important question when making choices: Can I look back on this day and truly say, “I did the best I could with what I had?” Sometimes the best I had WASN’T as good as it could’ve been or better yet, would have been (one day). But, the more I tried, the better at it I got! It’s MY journey and I’m ok with it! It’s MINE and it’s GOOD even when I make mistakes!

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Break the cycle

I grew up in a home with two parents who were addicts, and thought it was “normal” to have families like mine. As I got older, it grew into anger and resentment and finally got to the point of “if they can do it, so can I.” Watching how addiction can hurt a family, and how the cycle can spread down through generations has made me want to help others. I now help others see how serious addiction is, not just for the individual, but for the family of that individual as well. I live above the influence every day, and help those around me as well—personally and professionally to break the cycle of addiction.

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The Fears That Chain Me

Every morning, I pick out the flaws in myself. I stare at myself, fixing my clothes, standing straighter, messing with my hair, finding a way to smile that hides my under bite. All this just so that a few hundred people will accept me into their cruel, judgmental society that jumps on every difference and turns it into a weakness, not something that defines you as who are but instead as something that you shouldn’t be. Everyone has characteristics that makes you an individual, not just a uniform part of a whole. But many refuse to accept that these traits are normal. And this misconception of a how a society should be run causes everyone unneeded stress and worrying. This feeling of being different plagues me every time I decide to go talk to a pretty girl. I think she will believe I am lesser than her because of my differences. This anxiety of being rejected by people has ruined many relationships throughout my life. But don’t be like me. Be confident. Be courageous. And be yourself.

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Message to Parents

Teenagers listen to people who can truly connect with them, who understand their point of view, and don’t accuse them of being a bad person. This is why teenagers don’t talk to their parents because they’re scared of them thinking they’re failures. That’s why we lie lie lie lie lie because we are scared that we are not good people. It’s like you can’t help an alcoholic if you yourself have never gotten drunk. Kids open up when all you say is, it’s okay I understand and really mean it. Then they open up. An authoritative figure who can also be honest and admit their flaws is someone we would be willing to try listening to. Try acting more of an equal.

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Believe in Yourself

At one point in my life I was called fat. I was told no one liked me. So, I started to change who I was. I started acting the way the “cool” group acted and I started dressing like them. That didn’t work too well and I relized I was being fake. When I was by myself I would wear sweatshirts and sweatpants. I would sing, I would write and I would read the books I like to read. I liked the real me. I stopped being fake and I did what I loved. Would people pick on me? Yes. Did I care? At first I did care and I still do; however, it is alot easier to remember who I am now because I have a group of friends that like me for me and don’t care what I look like or what I like.

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It Ain’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be

Let me start by saying I am a devout Christian. And I try not to judge people who aren’t and behave in ways I do not believe in. But it’s extremely hard not only to not judge, but behave at parties. I have a lot of friends, I go to a lot of parties. And believe me, there are people drinking, snorting, having sex, doing whatever they want to. And it’s hard not to join in. I don’t do drugs. I don’t drink. I bring my own soda or whatever and keep a lid on it at all times. I am still a virgin. But I can feel myself starting to succumb a little to the peer pressure, even though I’m usually the person taking people home or calling 911. I see that people who are using drugs and alcohol are becoming worse and worse. And I pray for them. And I hope that with maybe a little help from my God I won’t give in. And I will NOT let my life get messed up.

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YOU

You are you. You are nobody else. You’re not meant to be anyone else. Don’t ever let anyone convince you that doing something you’re not into will make you cooler or get you more friends. You don’t always have to go with the flow. You don’t always have to go along with what everyone is telling you to do. Stand up for yourself. Don’t let people push you around and take advantage of you. If you don’t want to do something, don’t do it. If someone doesn’t want to do something, don’t make them do it. Sure, you’re going to make mistakes, everybody does. But those mistakes are not what defines you. Live for yourself, no one else.

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No Really Means No

If all of your friends are all doing something you don’t feel comfortable doing, don’t be afraid to stand up and say what you want to say. Don’t give in. If they can’t grasp the fact that you don’t want to participate, then they aren’t friends. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known them or how close you are. If they can’t respect your wishes, they don’t deserve your friendship. Stay strong.

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Subtle but Strong

Remember, that though it might seem that drugs are not having an effect on you or your friends, the effect can be subtle at first. Drugs change your perception, your mood, your outlook on life. They affect who you hang out with, the choices you make. Over time, the effects might become a little more obvious, or you may even be oblivious to them as you’re still under the spell. I know I prefer to be able to think with my actual brain, the real me, not a brain under the influence that I simply can’t rely on.

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It Will Pass

Just wanted to write and say, I know you may be feeling that pressure to join in and do drugs/drink, etc., as I did, but I am a few years on now, and really, honestly, I’m so glad I stopped. Of my friends who carried on, one is now on heroin, one has serious mental health issues and is on heavy medication, another got pregnant and her boyfriend left her, and another is practically homeless, with chronic depression and lung problems. I’m not kidding. Ok, so a few survived without these problems, but is it worth the risk? Think ahead to the life you will want, it’s worth a little “sacrifice” now for a happy life. I struggle a bit now with anxiety after my brief bit of drug use, but wow am I glad I didn’t carry on..it’s just not worth it. Life gets easier in terms of peer pressure – stand your ground, stand up for life!

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It’s OK to Feel Pressured

It is natural to feel pressured into doing something you don’t want to because others say it is cool or fun or even safe. Personally I have never been pressured into doing something like weed or alcohol but I know many of you reading this have. I hate to admit it, but most of my life I have been pressured into looking like everyone else or even changing my friends and interests because I don’t want to be bullied by others. Last year I looked in the mirror at all my makeup and my jewelry and clothes and I said to myself, I am done. Ever since then I have refused to go with the crowd and I have refused to be like everyone else. I go to the store and buy clothes so I don’t fit in and I love the clothes I buy. I am not saying that you shouldn’t go with the crowd. It is apart of life. Just remember that those people you are trying to be like just want attention. If you’re gay be gay. If you’re into music not gangs, great. BE YOU.

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Falling Isn’t Failing

After spending nearly 4 years behind bars, and I’m only 22, I’ve finally wrapped my head around this thing we call Addiction. Ive always had a great life full of opportunity and a loving family, but drinking turned me into someone I’m not. Everything I did, no matter how fun or exhilarating it was sober, had to have the booze to make it acceptable. It was the unnecessary cherry on top of my sundae. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, it’s that, I couldn’t deal with my true emotions. Happy, sad, angry, mad, death or success…was drowned out. Now I’m a real man who can cry and deal with my problems the right way. Although drinking can be fun, the price is much too high to pay. The risk is too severe. My choices are my own…but they affect everyone around me in some way. I’m done being selfish. I don’t need a cherry on my sundae because all the things that make it what it is are usually under what we see first.

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Think about it.

Here’s my story. I started at age 13, I was in gangs and I always thought I was so cool. But before I got into gangs I was depressed because I was raped at a young age. I found that as an excuse to do drugs. My 16 year old ex boyfriend was a drug dealer. He gave me Crystal, Molly, and Weed. I was high for any occasion. I’d sneak out of the house when my parents went to work and did drugs and gang deals with my boyfriend. I’d come home so high that when my Mom talked to me I never paid attention. There was a time I started getting acne. At family reunions I was always ticking because I wanted to get high so much. I was addicted. Next thing you know, my Mother finds out and my whole family hated me. I ran away with my boyfriend and a couple of weeks later my Mom was diagnosed with Cancer. My family was separating. My cousins didn’t like me. No one. It took me so long to realize that I had to stop doing drugs when I figured out my Mom was dying. Let your mother live worry free Knowing YOU’RE drug free.